The author was standing close beside General Jackson when the battery went forward, and he shall long remember the look of anxiety with which he watched it, and well he might, for upon the success of that battery much depended. For a while the air was filled with exploding, crashing shells, and the horses and men fell rapidly before that withering fire, which was directed with almost the precision of a rifle shot. Away went a limber chest high in the air, scattering death and destruction around. “We are not close enough,” said the brave Brockenborough. “Limber to the front, forward, gallop!” rung out his sharp command, and in an instant the battery was in position at point blank range. Fiercely those guns were then worked despite the iron hail that ploughed up the ground around them, and in a few minutes Brockenborough had the satisfaction of seeing the enemy retire precipitately, leaving the ground covered with dead and dying men and horses, and shattered carriages and dismounted guns. It was French’s famous battery they had encountered, but French’s no longer, save in name. On the morning of the 29th, the battery accompanied Ewell’s division to Dispatch Station, on the York River railroad, where a few shots were exchanged with the enemy, when Ewell retraced his steps, and moved towards Malvern Hill. In the afternoon of the 1st of July the battle of Malvern Hill began, and soon raged fiercely. Through the tardiness of General Huger the enemy had been enabled to reach the heights of Malvern, where he posted sixty guns, which swept every foot of ground around. In vain did the heavy masses of infantry rush with desperate valor upon these guns, but it was only to be driven back, leaving the ground covered with heaps of dead and mangled men. In this unequal contest artillery was not available, for not a position was to be had. Two or three times the Baltimore Light Artillery tried it, but was as often compelled to hastily withdraw, and when night ended the conflict, Malvern Hill was not yet won. Before morning McClellan withdrew to Harrison’s landing on the James, where he was safe, and General Lee had the mortification of knowing that the foe so completely within his toils had escaped him through the incapacity of a General of division. CHAPTER II.